A hint of mystery and the exotic behind these doors
I’m sure you can’t begin to guess where I was lingering this week? Does Preston Park Museum ring any bells? I thought I might do the Winter Garden and the Victorian Street separately- you know, big finale!- but I didn’t want you tiring of the subject. So we’ll just take a quick peep in the conservatory before moving swiftly on.
Orchids are beautiful, aren’t they?
There weren’t any comfy seat pads on the chairs and the doors were firmly closed, so I took the hint and kept walking. And this was my reward!
A toy shop window to press my nose up against
So I did! Sorry- I know some of you don’t like Pierrots, but he was loveable.
Maybe chocolate is more your thing?
Or objects d’art?
No shortage of those!
I do know one or two of you who don’t mind a sweet treat!
- Remember any of these?
A few of the shops don’t qualify for this post. The blacksmith didn’t have a window, as such- just lots of tools. I wandered into the printers and a very nice young lady was setting up the press to print some cards. She was well bundled up against the cold, as she needed to be with the door wide open. I couldn’t photograph her cheerful smile as it was a little dark in there.
But I did find an ironmonger, for the practical ones among you
And a photographer, for the family portraits
This was my very favourite shop! Apologies for the terrible quality of the photo.
I know what some of you are waiting for. I saw this sign but couldn’t find anywhere to buy an alcoholic drink, though I looked very hard.
Promises! Promises!
So it had to be the tea rooms and the “temperance drinks”
But you know what I forgot to take a photo of? The Victorian sponge sandwich on the counter. You’ll just have to take my word for it that it was very nice. Just in case you’ve missed any of my Preston Park Museum posts, you can find them here, and here, and here. Understatement- that’s what I’m going for!
Meanwhile I wonder what kind of windows everyone else is showcasing this week. Find them at Dawn’s The Day After. I believe she’s gone all romantic this week.
Wow, this is like walking down one small village street 1oo years ago. You really have an eye for windows.
Missed this comment earlier, Vivi. Tea eaten and washed up, I have an article to finish for Bespoke Traveller to keep me out of mischief. Have a fabulous evening! 🙂
The same to you …. I love to read that you are up to mischief at times. *smile
Don’t work too hard now.
Evening hug.
What a wonderful stroll of window shopping. Thanks for taking us along.
Glad you liked them, Dawn. I’d already written the post when I realised you were wanting Valentine’s windows. I guess these are a little romantic in their own way 🙂
Now would you be a “plain” sort of girl, Jo, or something a little more fancy? 🙂
what a great variety Jo…the chocolate shop is my favourite though
Magical! I want to be there!
Your personal invitation is in the post, Cindy 🙂
Lovely windows, Jo, and some great memories there. I loved the skin on Birds custard, and my mom made the prettiest blancmanges and jellies for Sunday tea, to be eaten with tinned fruit cocktail of course. 🙂 Those were the days when one could buy sweeties at threepence a quarter. *sigh*
I didn’t mind the skin on custard but never liked jelly or blancmange, Ad (always with evaporated milk and tinned fruit in our house 🙂 ) The memories in that museum! Could’ve been in my grandma’s old house.
Oh yes, I forgot the evaporated milk! I sometimes used to drink it out of the tin when no-one was looking. 😳
I still do! Dad likes it in his coffee 🙂
😆
Have any objections about me putting up this on my twitter?
Not at all. Thanks for noticing 🙂
More wonderful windows Jo – Happy Valentine’s Day to you 🙂
And to you, Sherri 🙂 Quiet night tonight. We cheated and did our celebrating last night to beat the crowds.
Don’t blame you 😉
I just love the light in that first photo 🙂
Thank you 🙂 I would have loved to get inside there but the doors were firmly closed.
I agree, it looks like a beautiful spot 🙂
I love all your windows Jo! 🙂
Thanks, Nicole 🙂 So nice to have you window gaze with me.
The windows are really quaint and so beautiful. What a lovely little spot. I’d love to go in the tea shop. 🙂
Hi Debbie! Happy Valentine’s Day 🙂 I was just about to come visiting. I’ll save you a cuppa and a slice of sponge.
queste vetrine sono molto speciali, un gusto abbastanza retrò, alcuni liberty molto apprezzati, sembra ci sia una gara per la bellezza ed i colori molto accesi, davero un piacevole reportage Giovanna, buona giornata
Buona giornata, Ventis 🙂 Grazie mille, cara.
I love going window shopping with you and I didn’t spend a penny. I like the photo you have on the header, by the way. 🙂
Thanks, Karen 🙂 The header is part of a wine cooler “train” that really caught my eye in one of the cabinets, so I’ve used it for all the museum posts.
More delightful shots of what seems like an amazing treasure trove of a place to visit. I especially love the romantic vintage feel of the second photo of the conservatory….also the wall of vintage posters and signs, but the whole place looks so interesting. I wouldn’t worry about over kill as each shot feels very unique. I haven’t tired of the place yet 🙂
Thanks a lot, Seonaid! I do go a bit mad with the camera at times, 🙂 I would probably have even more shots but my battery was fading and I had to keep “resting it” to take the next shot. Just about made it 🙂
You’re right, Jo – the restoration of this place has been very successful. Lets hope it draws the crowds to enjoy this living museum. I particularly like that first shot – peering through the windows through the winter garden.
Thanks, Meredith. 🙂 The park itself is always popular in Summer because of the riverside location and boat trips. Plenty of space to run about, and the Butterfly House too. Glad you enjoyed it.
It is all so charming, Jo. I love them all, but that first photo with the stain glass peeking out to the conservatory is eye catching. I’m a sucker for wooden toys, rocking horses, puppets, etc. and the display of jars of sweets perched on top of the doilies is lovely. We just don’t see that here…doilies, I mean. Hmm…Victorian sponge sandwich???? Interesting.
It’s just sponge cake with cream and jam in the middle, Lynne.. A skilful baker can make them big and moist but I’m hopeless with cakes (except for eating them) 🙂
These are all beautiful, but that first photo really caught my eye, Jo! The tea room photo, what an inviting place.
Thanks, Jill 🙂 I think I’ve done my share of promoting tourism in the north east recently, and I’ve enjoyed every second.
Love the variety of windows, especially the clown puppet.
BE ENCOURAGED! BE BLESSED!
He’s a favourite of mine, too, Francine 🙂
Thanks, love. Are you piled high with snow?
The salt truck couldn’t make it up my street today. We receive three inches so far today.
Oh dear! Stay warm 🙂
I love orchids, pierrots, sweet treats and all other attractions displayed in this fun gallery and now you have me craving for the Victorian sponge sandwich!!!
What can I say, Paula? I’m so sorry! Not a crumb left 😦
I went out earlier this evening for an un-Valentine’s Day meal with my other half (keeping ahead of the crowd 🙂 ) Just quietly sipping coffee now.
😀 can’t you at least describe it, or should I google it? 😀
I think you should Google it or use your very vivid imagination 🙂
I’ll give you a clue- we went to a tapas restaurant (in the marina, where it was blowing a gale, but I didn’t fall in)
Good to hear you did not fall in 😀 My imagination is giving up – heading for google 😀
Seen it.. YUM!!!
🙂
Ah, that was a particularly enjoyable walk Jo 🙂 Love all of the windows and the vintage posters.
Just back from an un-Valentine’s Day meal out, Madhu 🙂 Tomorrow will be too busy. Needed the walk to use up the calories 🙂
Loved all the shops!
And never spent a penny, Eunice 🙂 I’m so good at window shopping!
I love doing that is cities I walk around but now I am on a hunt for old artist paintbrushes maybe from someone famous so I can PAINT GOOD 🙂
Love these beautiful windows, especially the first one. I felt like I was walking along with you 🙂
Hope you were in costume, Amy? 🙂 It’s an excellent museum and I’ll go back in the Summer, when they’re running an event, and test out the Butterfly World too.
Lovely, Jo, what a fantastic wander you had! And no modern people in the way to spoil the shots! 🙂
A freezing cold January day works wonders for crowd control, Sue 🙂
I did wonder about that, but thought I should ask the question! 🙂
The tea room was popular 🙂
I bet it was!
Chocolate shop for me Jo. What a lovely walk you must have had.
Milk, plain or white, Sue? 🙂 I bought walnut whips for Mick’s Valentine’s treat tomorrow but he’s a plain chocolate man normally.
Milk chocolate please. Could you drop that over to Canada for me Jo? 🙂
It would be my pleasure, Sue 🙂 Hope you’re not in a hurry!
Some exceptional windows to linger over this week Jo, but my favourite has to be those doors into the Winter Garden! Although the sweet shop comes a close second 😀
I couldn’t get close enough to those jars to see which sweets were inside, Jude, but I coud guess! Sherbet lemons had to be there 🙂 Aniseed balls 😦
Oooh… I like both of those, actually used aniseed balls to help me stop smoking several years ago!